Praise, Worship & Prayer
PRAISE AND WORSHIP SIGNIFY OUR PRIESTLY MINISTRY.
We are priests unto God. (Rev 1:6; I Pet 2:5, 9-10)
I Pet 2:4-5
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, erejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
PRIESTS – OFFER MORNING & EVENING SACRIFICES (EX 29:38-44)
Rom 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Worship: Greek word - kiss, to do reverence to, adore, fawn or crouch; It is the result of a divine encounter that involves an intimate communion with God. To Honor God
The spirit of man (inward man) reaching out to the Spirit of God.
John 4:20-24
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Worship:
Isn’t limited to location nor time
more than outward ritual
we worship according to God’s word (John 14:6)
I Pet 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of kdarkness into His marvelous light; 10 lwho once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Praise: to commend, to applaud, to express approval or admiration of, to extol in
words or in song, to magnify, shine, boast, rave etc. It is an outward expression.
Hebrews 13:15
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
The importance of praise and worship lies in the relationship it establishes between the worshiper and the object worshiped. We tend to become like what we worship.
EXPRESSIONS OF PRAISE & WORSHIP:
My attitude, lifting our hands, obedience, clapping, playing instruments, singing, submission, shouting, standing, dancing, bowing, doing good, sharing
PRIESTS - WATCH OVER THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING, AND TO KEEP IT BURNING EVERMORE BOTH BY DAY AND NIGHT, ( Leviticus 6:12 ; 2 Chronicles 13:11 )
This was a dirty and humbling task involving cleaning and preserving of ashes. Priest served both God and the people diligently and were responsible to never let the fire of the altar go out. The priests did not start the fire, God started it, they maintained it. You cannot start a hunger instead yourself, God draws you. This meant constant sacrifice, constant serving. Guard the things that are precious.
Luke 11:1-2
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father,[a] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. [c]Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
PRAYER IS:
Prayer is not a religious duty, but a foundation that Jesus built his life upon. It was essential. it’s governmental activity
Spending time in conversation with God (two-way communication)
Earthly licenses for heavenly interference.
Heaven Power impacting earth through man’s earthly authority
The petitioning of authority for rights guaranteed in constitutional law.
It’s not to get God to do what we want Him to do/manipulate Him but to co-labor with Father
A command
A Discipline & lifestyle
It is a bending of the will of man before God to admit his need. 2 Chron 7:14; Mt 6:9,10
POSTURE/ATTITUDE OF PRAYER:
Pray in Faith (Heb 11:6)
Pray without Wavering (Jas 1:6-8; Mk 11:24)
Pray According to God’s will (I John 5:14-16)
Come to the Father through Jesus Christ, our intercessor (Heb 7:25)
HINDRANCES TO PRAYER:
A. Asking amiss (Out of the will of God). (Jas 4:1-4.)
B. Wrong motives (Mt 6:5-8)
C. Pride. (Ps 138:6)
D. Iniquity (1sa 59:1-3)
E. An unforgiving Spirit (Mt 5:23, 24; 18:21-35)
F. Bitterness (Heb 12:15-17; 2 Pet 2:21-23)
G. Heart idols (covetousness) (Ezek 14:3)
H. Stinginess (Prov 21:13)
I. Doubts (Jas 1:5-7)
J. Wrong relationships (I Pet 3:7)
TEACH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THE STATUTES OF THE LORD. ( Leviticus 10:11 ; 33:10 2 Chronicles 15:3 ; Ezekiel 44:23 Ezekiel 44:24)